The big story outside the Democratic National Convention is the protests.

Black Lives Matters demonstrators from across the country are here in north Philadelphia, including several from the Triangle.

ABC11 spoke to Lamont Lilly, an activist from Durham, who is also running for vice president on a third-party ticket for the Workers World Party.

Black Lives Matter is at the very top of his party's platform.

And he doesn't trust Republicans -- or Democrats -- to solve the systemic issues of racial injustice in America.

"These are the issues that affect all working people. All black lives matter whether you're in North Carolina, New York, California," Lilly said. "We have to begin connecting these dots.

"But at the same time ... I don't put my faith in the Democrats," Lilly added, "and I don't think the Dems nor the Republicans serve the interest of poor and marginalized and black and brown people in this country."

Police-involved shootings and the Black Lives Matter movement are expected to be major themes at the Democratic Convention.